La Liga Preview: Villarreal - Tenerife

Villarreal are hoping for consecutive league victories when Tenerife visit on Sunday afternoon, on Matchday 9 in the Spanish Primera Division.

Copa-del-Dismay

However, the apparent respite that coach Ernesto Valverde should have expected after securing a maiden domestic win of the new season appears to have been obliterated by the farcical scenes versus Puertollano in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

Not only were his side forced to fight back from a goal down, but the closing stages saw Nilmar dismissed for a reckless elbow, and perhaps more crucially Marcos Senna hobbled from the pitch after breaking down through injury once again.

A fit Senna makes Villarreal tick; his influence, vision, and composure are notable by their absence when the Spanish international is anything other than at 100%, and given the significance of the matches ahead for the El Madrigal side, the last thing Valverde needs is to lose his talismanic playmaker.

Villarreal have experienced their fair share of bad luck this season, it has to be said; the loss to Lazio in the Europa League was cruel, while solid performances against Mallorca, Osasuna and to a certain extent versus Athletic Bilbao were not suitably rewarded.

However, the cogs are not turning efficiently, and the submarine will continue to sink unless Valverde can find the root of his sides’ below par results, or else he may himself replaced to avoid this campaign disintegrating before the winter break.

Chirping Canaries

Jose Lluis Oltra’s Tenerife side, on the other hand, have looked comfortable on their return to the Primera Division.  With their modest budget and tight squad many had predicted a direct return to the second tier, but in their first foray among the elite since their demotion in 2002, they have more than held their own so far.

Their exploits on their own patch have been the major contributing factor to their success, with three home wins out of four at the Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez against sides in and around the bottom half of the table.

A strong home performance is essential for the newly-promoted sides to have any chance of retaining their top flight status, and Oltra has assembled a squad that is primarily difficult to beat, but has added individuals with La Liga experience wherever possible. Carlos Bellvis arrived from Numancia, while Roman Martinez has looked useful alongside former Real Soceidad stalwart Mikel Alonso in the centre of midfield.

Goals are however currently at a premium, with just five strikes in eight matches, of which only one has came on the road. This will inevitably become a problem, but with Villarreal undergoing a strenuous period of discontent, they may feel this is an opportunity to strike at a wounded adversary.

 

29 Oct  Puertollano 1-1 Villarreal (Copa del Rey)
25 Oct  Villarreal 2-1 Malaga (La Liga)
22 Oct  Lazio 2-1 Villarreal (Europa League)
18 Oct  Xerez 2-1 Villarreal (La Liga)
04 Oct  Villarreal 0-0 Espanyol (La Liga)

Tenerife

28 Oct  Celta Vigo 2-1 Tenerife (Copa del Rey)
25 Oct  Tenerife 1-0 Xerez (La Liga)
18 Oct  Espanyol 2-1 Tenerife (La Liga)
03 Oct  Tenerife 0-1 Deportivo (La Liga)
26 Sep  Real Madrid 3-0 Tenerife (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Villarreal

Marcos Senna's thigh injury that he collected in midweek will certainly rule him out of this encounter, and possibly for another two weeks. Santiago Cazorla will be missing for the forseeable due to problems with a herniated disk, while Uruguayan Diego Godin continues to struggle with an ankle knock. However Ariel Ibagaza has recovered from a hamstring strain and should be back in contention.

Possible XI (4-4-2): Diego Lopez - Angel, Marcano, Gonzalo, Capdevila - Cani, Bruno, Ibagaza/Eguren, Pires - Rossi, Nilmar

Tenerife

The unfortunate clash between Marc Bertran and Royston Drenthe last month means the defender will be out for around four months, but other than his omission Oltra should have a full complement available.

Possible XI (4-4-1-1): Aragoneses - Sicilia, Martinez, Llorens, Nunez - Kome, Mikel Alonso, Roman, Lorite - Alfaro, Juan Martinez

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Villarreal

Robert Pires celebrated his 36th birthday with a crucial equaliser in the Copa del Rey on Thursday evening, and although his role at the club is reduced given his advancing years, his craft and guile whenever selected remains a crucial tool to his under-fire coach. During a tough time such as this, old heads such as Pires are integral to improving the situation.

Tenerife

Midfielder Roman Martinez has enjoyed his spell in central midfield for Los Blanquiazales this season, making seven appearances, and the on-loan Espanyol star has combated vigourously to assist his side in both defence and attack. The 26-year old proved himself able to find the net in the Primera Division last season, and Tenerife will hope he can be equally useful in front of goal in their battle for survival.

PREDICTION

Tenerife's away form is poor, and Villarreal should seize the opportunity to seize back-to-back La Liga wins.

Villarreal 2-0 Tenerife